The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-28
MORE MEN JOIN THE STRIKE
But the Street-Car Company Also Sue
ceeds in Hiring More Drivers.
Colonel Johnson Charged with Having De-
clared that the Strike Would Cause tie &
Streets to Run with Blood.

4
yesterday, where it's lines reach had streetear
accommodation. When everything is all right
1 il requires sixty cars meet the needs of ofdl
nary travel, and as the company had ffty-t"o
| out, it not far from its usual number. But
the strikers assert that while the cars were
| numerous the patronage was less, as some OF the
| noon cars went up ard down with small loads
This, they say, is due to the
| citizens, who have determined to patronize
| Colonel Johnsons company as little as
| possible 1.-THE restaurant men tell US" said a
striker, that since the trouble began their din
ner patronage has largely increased. Men who
heretofore went home at noon for dinner or
lunch are assisting us by Withholding that much
| from Colonel Johnson's money boxes. He will
| feel before get through with him that he has
made serious mistake. We will not suffer for
help The financial assistance we have already
received has enabled to procure weeks sup
port. with comfortable surplus for next weeks
needs" The striker referred to the fact that
the Knights of Labor committee having charge
of the funds contributed for the support of the
drivers distributed the money yesterday after
noon. The single got So. so each. and the
married men Sc. This scale will be main ed
as long as the strike lasts.
One of the officials of the Knights says that
the question of the legality of the strike as 1t
concerns the order very adroity raised by
Colonel Johnson, who claims to have influence
with Powderly. mo one but the executive
board" he continued. has any authority over
the strike. If the knights persist in their
fusal to out under the order it may be after
while the question will reach the national execu-
tive board. But it can get there only through
the district assembly's executive board. Powder
ly would recognizeitin no other way" 1t is hoped
that continual persuasion will bring the knights
to obedience Yesterday the committee says
that seven or eight stablemen came out in addi-
ton to the five on Thursday. But it s author
itatively admitted that there has been only net
gain of six to the original strikers. This shows
that some of those who first went out have re-
turned to work, as they one week ago mum bered
seventy, and before the order issued by the
executive board, here and there driver was
persuaded to join the strike. If the state
ments of those who ought to know are correct,
thirteen altogether have responded to the order
of the knights, and of these thirteen only two
are drivers, the rest being stablemen. with the
exception eOf blacksmith. AS evidence OF
the latters loyalty to the order, it is said he is
willing to sacrifice his wages and accept the Sc
week the executive committee guarantees him
for the support of family of wife and seven
children.
The knights cite another instance of a stable
man who has wife and four children to support.
he has joined the strikers. In contrast with
this, they tell of Councilman Burns. of the Fiji
teenth ward, knight in the employ of Colonel
johnson. who refuses to obey the order He is
one Of the stable bosses. and emphatically de-
clines to recognize the authority of the executive
board in this emergency. 1t is stated that two
years ago, while in the Council, he voted against
granting charter to another company. Burns
is candidate for reelection, and the Knights
propose to see that he is defeated
Yesterday. the drivers at work were tainted
by groups of men and boys, particularly along
Illinois street, for their determination to remain
with the company. An instance of this annoy
Building. A number of brick-layers and others
shouted "scab,' ''scab," at each driver he
passed the building in which the men were at
work. At the tunnel another crowd kept up the
c-y, and last night seven or eight young men
crossed the street on Pennsylvania and Wash
ington in the rear of each passing haunting
the driver with being a scab. No violence was
offered and the drivers gave the men no heed.
1t is the object to see what can be gained by har-
assing the men in this matter. while more sys
tematic plans for embarrassing the company are
being formed.
To-day express wagons will be in the in
terest of the strikers to all parts of the CITY, and
but at least three times day, morning. noon and
night. These wagons are to have conductors.
Collecting money to support the strike is to be
continued, and it is asserted that from the assur-
ances given enough can be raised to sustain the
strike for several weeks to come. The great diff
fculty is in the refusal of the Knights to
spond to the executive boards demand A noti-7
fcation will be sent to these men to-day that the
order is imperative, and must be obeye if mem
bership is to be retained in the order Of the
Knights of Labor. The notice continues:
strike was illegal and to remain at work until they
could hear from the general master workman. While
the slightest intention of hearing from the
tended They may write the general master work
board perfectly. posted and know from the |
highest source of sauthority, which is the
master workman, that strikes in the nature |
OF the present one perfectly legal Moth |
interfere with this strike You are therefore, ap
pealed to, in behalf of yourself and families. to at
stand up for the rights of Be true to the prin
cples by which many of You have solemnly avowed |
board that before this strike terminated blood would
flow IN the streets of this city and disastrous riot
company criticising the strikers as towards
and characterizng them as being too timid to
object is tantalize the strikers end provoke them
into riotous assault upon those who driving in
about at the final meeting of the board with the
car of1cers This scheme which they have undertaken
blood" Rest assured that no driver will be molested
by the strikers or any me mber of our order We
this and the that this rule is violated
the offender will be prosecuted and lawfully punished
The reference to flooding the streets with
blood is drawn from what it is alleged Colonel
Johnson said to the committee when it
ferred with him. He was told that all the
Knights of Labor in his employ would be called
crease. do that Johnson replied, so 1t is re-
ported, land a calamity will occur. The streets
will run with blood
The notice contains appeals to the Knights to
assert their manhood by refusing to sell them
selves for So, $40 and $50 per day. In support of
this the question is asked: ''Do you believe it is
right to champion the cause of man who
openly declared that he could and would buy
your manhood at his prcea Ara you the
drivers of mules. or are you the mules? Will |
you not refute the charges made by your en-
ployer TO the effect that money was the price
Of your principleP Have you no higher ambi-
ton than to be looked upon by whole COM
munity as hogs cattle being fatted for the
slaughterW In conclusion the assertion is made
that sit is the purpose of the district
assembly to win this strike 1t cannot
t will not fail-and the company will
be obliged to discharge all those who work dur
ng the strike in order to make room for the
strikers when they have the victory, as
hese men will not affiliate with those who refuse
20 strike. 1t remains for you to determine
whether you will sell yourselves to tyrannical
ave-holder who can only give YOU ratious dur